Fans were an indication of one's social status in Chinese ancient society, where a particular status and gender would accord a specific type of fan to an individual. It was almost the same in Japan. The Akomeogi (Japanese folding fan) originated in the sixth century and were held by aristocrats of the Heian period when formally dressed. They were made by tying thin stripes of hinoki (Japanese cypress) together with thread with the number of strips of wood differing according to the person's rank.
